Reflector mounting



Oct. 10, 1939. L. R. BLACKMAN ET AL 2,175,566

REFLECTOB MOUNTING .Filed Feb. 28, 1938 lNvENoRs H L ACEY R. BLACBlMAN Ann FRED A.N|CHOLS ORNEY Patented Oct. 10, 1939 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFLECTOR MOUNTING Lacey R. Blackman, Bridgeport, and Fred A. Nichols, Stratford, Conn.

Application February 28, 1938, Serial No. 193,128

6 Claims. (G1. 88-82) This invention relates to new and useful im- Ineans for securing the reflectors to the base IB. provements in light reflectors and has particular Holders I are open through both ends and at relation to the mounting of such reflectors to their upper ends include inturned portions or form letters, numerals, signs, strips, etc. flanges I6 overlyingthe inturned portions I 4 of 5 The objects and advantages of the invention the members I3 whereby the latter and the re- 5 will become apparent from a consideration of the flectors II may not pass through the upper or following detailed description taken in connecouter ends of the holders. tion with the accompanying drawing wherein Inclined side walls I'I of the holders connect a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is their upper flanges I6 with outwardly directed l0 shown. However, it is to be understood that the lower flanges I8 which may be straight across 10 invention is not limited to the details disclosed their under or inner surfaces as shown or may but includes all such variations and modifications be curved when the base is to be applied to a as fall within thespirit of the invention and the curved surface. Flanges I8 each carry a plu# scope of the appended claims. rality of attaching lugs I9 for securing the hold- In the drawing: ers I5 to the base I0 and while in the drawing 15 Fig.l 1 is a plan View showing a metal strip each flange I8 is provided with four such lugs having light reflectors mounted thereon in acit will be understood that the number may be cordance with the invention; varied.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View Base ID is provided with openings 20 in such through one of the reectors and its mounting; number and spaced relation as to accommodate 20 Fig, 3 is a plan View on an enlarged scale showthe lugs I3 on the holders I5. The arrangement ing one of the reflectors and its mounting; is such that with the holders aboutvthe cup-like Fig. 4 is a plan View showing the use of the inmembers I3 and the reflectors I I as inl Fig. 2 the Vention in the formation of a numeral; lower ends of the holders are against the base Fig. 5 is a plan View showing the use of the and the lugs I9 of the holders are through the 25 invention in the formation of a letter; and openings 2li in the base. The ends or portions Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the use of the of the lugs at the lower or under side of the base invention in the formation of a sign. are bent over or clinched whereby to prevent Referring in detail to the drawing and at first casual movement of the holders.

`more particularly to the Figs. 1 through 3 at I B The edges of the flanges I4 and IG are sub- 30 is shown a base or mounting member comprisstantially against the sides of the reflectors II ing a length of strip metal stock preferably aluf whereby to exclude moisture and prevent tainminum or other non-co-rrosive or corrosion repering with such flanges in any attempt'to resisting metal. Base I0 is also preferably of av move the reflectors through the front of the soft material whereby it may be bent to conform holders. The reflectors being mounted as shown 35 to any of the various surfaces to "which it may and described the base may now be attached to be desired that it be fastened` The length of the any desired surface or object. The base I0 is of base will depend on the purpose for which it is the desired length and shape or configuration to be used and use and price may also determine and is provided with holes 2I for the passage of the number and size of the reflectors attached screws or other fastening or securing means to 40 to the baseaswill appear. be driven into the support on which the base Secured to the base IU are a plurality of like and the reflectors are to be mounted. glass reflectors II each intermediate its length Base I0 as well as the cup-like members I3` including a lateral bead I2 and each having its and particularly the base and the holders I5 are lower end enclosed by a cup-like member I3 the of bright non-tarnishing material whereby their 45 upper portion of which is inturned to provide a exposure to the weather will not result in their flange I4 overlying the upper side of bead I2. splitting, etc. They will not require continuous As disclosed in Fig. 2 the lower end of the reattention as painting cr the like for their upflector is against the bottom wall of the member keep. The base being made or cut to the de- I3 although it will be apparent that there may sired shape and size at the factory no particular 50 be intervening means if desired. work is required at the place of application for The bottom walls of the cup-like members I3 the proper installation of the device. When it is are held against the upper side of the base Ill as in place the attaching lugs I9 are concealed and such members are received in ring-like members may not be pried up for the removal of the re- 56 or parts I5 comprising holders and attaching iiectors but when a reector is broken the base 55 ilectors ll are attached to a base 24 by means of the holders l5. The base 24 is in the form 0f an arrow although it will be appreciated that the in- Vention is applicable to other designs or forms of signs. Each of the bases 22, 23 and 24 is provided with the desired number of holes 25 for the passage of screws or other securing means whereby the letters, numerals, signs, etc. may be attached to supports.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a light reflecting device, a sheet metal base, a reflector unit wholly at the front side of said base and comprising an elongated lens and a cup-like means secured to said lens and completely encompassing the inner end thereof, said cup-like means including a bottom wall and having an angular shoulder intermediate the ends of the lens, a tubular ring-like part wholly at said front side of the base and enclosing said cup-like means, lugs on the inner end of said part and passing through the base and clinched at the rear side thereof whereby said part is attached to the base with its inner end against the front of the base, and a flange on said part and engaging the angular shoulder of said cup-like means and securing it with its bottom wall against the front side of the base.

2. In a light reflecting device, a sheet metal base, a lens having a radially extending shoulder' and a forwardly projecting body portion substantially at right angles to said shoulder, a metal cup-like means enclosing the inner portion of said lens, said means including a bottom wall and a flange spaced from said wall and overlying said shoulder and securing the lens to the means, a metal ring-like part about said means, lugs on the inner end of said part and passing through the base and clinched whereby the part is secured `to the base, and said part including a flange overlying the flange of the means and securing the latter with its bottom wall against the front side of the base.

3. In a light reflecting device, a flexible metal base, a row of light reflecting units each comprising a lens and a cup-like means secured to and enclosing the inner end portion of the lens, said cup-like means including a bottom wall disposed against the base, a ring-like part encircling the sides of the cup-like means, lugs on said part and passing through the base and clinched whereby to secure the part to the base with the inner end of the part against the base, and said part including a flange overlying a portion of said cuplike means and securing it in position with its bottom wall against the base.

4. In a light reflecting device, a flexible metal base adapted to be readily bent to conform to the surface of a support to which the base is to be attached, a row of light reflecting units mounted on said base, each of said units comprising a tubular metal housing open at each end and having one end against the said base, a lens supported by said housing and projecting through the outer end thereof, an outwardly extending annular radial flange on said housing at the inner end thereof and bearing against said base, said base having spaced perforations in its portions about the edges of said flange, lugs on said flange and passing through said perforations and clinched at the rear side of said base and securing the housing thereto, and said base imperforate in its portions within the bounds of said housing and completely closing the inner end of the latter.

5. In a light reflecting device, an elongated flat flexible sheet metal base, a plurality of lenses each having a radial shoulder and a forwardly projecting body portion substantially at right angles to said shoulder and directed away from said base, a ring-like part encircling the inner portion of each of said lenses, lugs on the inner ends of said parts and passing through said base and clinched whereby the parts are secured to the base, a continuous flange on each said part and overlying the shoulder of the lens encircled by said part and securing the lens to the base, said flange of each ring-like part having its edge substantially against said forwardly projecting body portion of the lens encircled by said part, and each of said ring-like parts spaced from the next adjacent thereof to permit of deforming of said flexible elongated base to have the latter conform to the surface to which it is applied.

6. In a light reflecting device, an elongated flat flexible sheet metal base, a plurality` of lenses each having a radially extending shoulder and a forwardly projecting body portion substantially at right angles to said shoulder, a plurality of cup-like means each enclosing the inner portion of one of said lenses, said means including a bottom wall and a flange spaced from said wall and overlying said shoulder and securing the lens to the means, an independent metal ringlike part encircling each of said lenses and means and secured to said base, each of said ring-like parts including a flange overlying the flange of the means it encircles whereby the latter is secured between the flange of the ring-like means and said elongated flexible base, and each of said ring-like parts spaced from the next adjacent thereof to permit of deforming of said flexible elongated base to have the latter conform to the surface to which it is applied.

LACEY R. BLACKMAN. FRED A. NICHOLS. 

